What is counselling?
Counselling provides an opportunity to share personal concerns or goals with another person who is professionally trained to help.
A counsellor can assist you to cope with a crisis or difficulty, or help you develop skills to achieve new outcomes for yourself, your relationship or your family.
Counselling will help you:
- clarify your concerns
- gain understanding
- consider alternatives
- set goals
- implement strategies
Sessions usually last from 1 - 1½ hours.
Referral
You may be referred to a family relationship centre, mediator or other professional practitioner if our counsellor assesses that your needs could be better met through their help.
Our service
Lutheran Care's counselling service offers professional support from trained counsellors. Our counsellors are able to work with different aspects of a person's experience, including emotional wellbeing, spirituality and relationships.
The service is open to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Counsellors listen to individuals, couples or families and invite them to share problems before they become crises. They offer genuine care and support when facing difficulties without taking over.
Services include:
- Personal counselling for issues such as personal concerns, crisis, depression, guilt, fear, anger, loss and grief, abuse and domestic violence
- Preparation for marriage or commitment
- Relationship enrichment
- Marriage and relationship counselling
- Support through separation or divorce
- Assistance to families/parenting support
Who should attend?
Anyone may attend counselling.
Relationship problems are best resolved together with both partners sharing the experience and different perspectives.
If your partner will not attend counselling with you and you need to come on your own, you may still find the sessions helpful and discover new strategies. Many seemingly reluctant partners do attend if simply invited.
Country services
Lutheran Care has a number of bases from which we offer our services. See below.
Country people are welcome to phone a counsellor to discuss how best to access services.
Counsellors from other counselling agencies of local services may also be able to provide assistance.
Confidentiality
Lutheran Care's counselling services maintains confidentiality except where a mandatory reportable offence (e.g. child abuse) has been disclosed, or where there is a risk of harm to yourself or another person. Lutheran Care participates in Government Information Sharing Guidelines for the benefit of the people it serves for the safety of those who are vulnerable and to avoid duplication of information. Except where legal requirements determine otherwise, participants in our service would provide consent before any information is shared. Counsellors receive professional supervision to ensure high standards of service are maintained. The supervisor is strictly bound to maintain confidentiality. Names are not disclosed in supervisor/counsellor discussions.
You may access your records on request. Records are not protected against court subpoena.
Counselling services are provided from:
- Nuriootpa (08) 8562 2688
- Blair Athol (08) 8269 9300
- Murraylands 0490 660 158
Lutheran Care's counselling services are supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Fees
The fees are assessed according to household income. The fees for each session are listed below:
| Family Income | Fees |
|---|---|
| Pension only/unemployed/student | $20 |
| $15 - $25,000 pa | $30 |
| $25 - $35,000 | $35 |
| $36 - $50,000 | $50 |
| $51 - $70,000 | $60 |
| Over $70,000 | $75 |
No one will be denied a service because of an inability to pay.
1800 Respect
1800 Respect is the national sexual assault and domestic family violence counselling service. You can call 1800 737 732 24 hours a day, seven days a week for support, counselling and advice. Everything is confidential.
